Education

Njoro Girls School Closed After Teachers Failed to Notify Parents of Dying Student

Education officials have ordered the indefinite closure of Njoro Girls Senior School following violent demonstrations by parents and community members demanding accountability after an 18-year-old student died under disputed circumstances.

Authorities deployed police officers to the institution on Monday, February 2, to control angry crowds who stormed the campus seeking explanations about the death of Form Four student Brenda Akinyi.

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Family Alleges Delayed Medical Response

Akinyi passed away at Nakuru Teaching and Referral Hospital after becoming ill while attending classes. Her relatives have accused school administrators of failing to provide timely medical intervention and neglecting to inform the family as her health deteriorated.

According to family members, they resided within close proximity to the educational facility and could have sought emergency treatment had they received prompt notification about her condition.

The student’s brother stated he learned of his sister’s illness considerably late, claiming school staff only administered over-the-counter pain medication despite visible signs of serious health complications.

Three-Day Delay Alleged

Text message records reviewed by media outlets indicate Akinyi relied solely on painkillers for three consecutive days while on school premises before officials transferred her to a medical facility for professional care.

The deceased student’s mother reported learning about her daughter’s medical emergency only after hospital admission had already occurred, by which point intervention proved unsuccessful.

“We could have acted faster if the school had contacted us immediately when she first showed symptoms,” family representatives told journalists during the protest.

Parents Demand Health Protocol Investigation

Relatives are pressing education authorities to examine the institution’s procedures for managing student medical emergencies and parental communication protocols during health crises.

The family has questioned why campus staff delayed hospital referral while the student’s condition progressively worsened over multiple days.

Education Officials Dispute Negligence Claims

Nakuru County Director of Education has rejected accusations of administrative negligence, asserting that initial reports suggest the student had documented pre-existing medical conditions.

The education official declined to provide specific details about the alleged prior illness history, citing ongoing investigations into the circumstances surrounding the death.

Pattern of Complaints Emerges

Several parents who participated in Monday’s demonstrations claimed this incident represents a recurring problem at the institution, alleging the school has faced previous criticism regarding inadequate attention to student welfare.

Community members expressed concerns that systemic failures in health monitoring and emergency response protocols may have contributed to the tragedy.

School Operations Suspended Pending Review

Education authorities have not specified when classes will resume, stating that operations remain suspended until officials complete a comprehensive review of the incident.

The indefinite closure affects hundreds of students, including Form Four candidates preparing for national examinations scheduled later this year.

Law enforcement maintained presence at the campus throughout Monday to prevent property damage as tensions remained elevated among grieving community members seeking justice for the deceased student.

Officials have not announced whether any administrative personnel will face disciplinary action pending the outcome of the investigation.